Reduce damage to underground utilities

The problem…

Digging ground is a fundamental part of construction and with that comes risks – the risk of damaging buried services and potentially causing serious injury or even death. Unfortunately, every time ground is broken these risks are present.

Consequences are becoming worse

Damage can be both dangerous and expensive: the utility will have to be repaired, productivity will dip and compensation may need to be paid. In the UK, injury at work can result in large fines: a recent update to the Health & Safety Sentencing Guidelines means a fine handed out to an organisation is not just based on the severity of the incident, but also the turnover of the responsible business. This has led to a sharp increase in the level of fines imposed by courts.

Source: IOSH Health & Safety Sentencing Guidelines One Year On, 2017

 

Reducing the risks

Digging into the ground poses many risks although by following a best practice model these can be dramatically reduced.

1. Always use the best tools
2. Implement and follow safe working practices
3. Monitor and improve on-site behaviours

 

Use the best avoidance tools

Locating buried utilities before excavating is vital and can be easily achieved with a Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT) and accompanying signal generator (Genny). It is important to use a CAT that has been designed with the user in mind and is feature-rich.  Radiodetection’s C.A.T4 products all feature automatic dual-frequency receivers that find more cables, as well as the ability to work reliably even in areas of high electrical interference.

Implement and follow safe working practices

The UK’s HSG47 2014 guidance contains procedures for planning excavations, locating buried services and safe excavation.  It forms the basis of a set of safe working practices.  To be effective, the CAT modes must be used correctly, and it is of particular importance that the Genny is also used.  Companies’ documented practices should encompass using the CATs correctly as well as the other aspects of HSG47.

CAT training is vital to ensure that operators are competent.  Always chose a training provider who can demonstrate expertise with your chosen CAT product.

Monitor on-site behaviours

Ultimately, risks can only be reduced if the tools are actually used, and used correctly as instructed. Cable Avoidance Tools provided by Radiodetection – a UK manufacturer of damage prevention tools –  support customers in this task by automatically recording what is done. This data-logging functionality records key locator parameters every second and stores the logs in on-board non-volatile memory. The locator stores what mode was being used, what signal was being detected, the sensitivity setting of the locator, the depth of the located service and many more parameters.

These data logs allow verification that the tool have been used correctly.  They can also highlight areas for improvement.

Drive best practice, reduce utility strikes and improve on-site safety

September 2017 sees the launch of Radiodetection’s C.A.T Manager Online – a new cloud-based management system designed to complement their gC.A.T4 range of Cable Avoidance Tools.

gC.A.T.4 GPS Cable Avoidance Tools connect with a free Android or Apple mobile app to transfer usage data to the remote server at the end of each scan. There is no need for operator intervention or complex manual data retrieval, saving time and effort for both field operators and office staff.

The web interface provides a structured analysis and presentation of the data, allowing supervisors to easily assess work quality. Built-in GPS adds location information to all the scans, and surveys can also be visualised using the Google Maps interface.

Web based tools such as Radiodetection’s C.A.T Manager Online offer contractors a convenient way to identify errors in near real-time and enables early interventions to prevent poor practices developing.

 

To find out more information about C.A.T Manager Online visit: http://ift.tt/2ycAC3u.

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Dyson to launch electric vehicle by 2020

Dyson, the British technology company behind a raft of household appliances, has announced a £2Bn investment to develop its own variant of the electric car.

For James Dyson, renowned inventor and founder of his namesake, the move has been decades in the making. During the early nineties, Mr Dyson proposed a cyclonic filter – similar in principle to those found inside his iconic vacuum cleaner – which attached to a diesel vehicle’s exhaust and captured particulate matter. The industry was uninterested however – the appetite was not yet there and the capture system was promptly shelved.

In the years since, Dyson has developed a myriad of motors and batteries, and the company now looks to bring that expertise to bear in the guise of a “radical” electric car. Already, 400 engineers have been enlisted, with recruitment ongoing. The £2Bn investment will be split, with £1Bn allocated to the vehicle itself and £1Bn earmarked for the all-important battery.

It’s all a bit nebulous however. Neither the car nor a prototype exists at the moment and a manufacturing base has yet to be chosen, meaning there’s much work to be done. There are doubts too as to whether Dyson can make inroads into an already crowded market. But Dyson remain optimistic that they can deliver something very different.

“In London, nearly 9,500 people die early each year due to long-term exposure to air pollution according to a study carried out by researchers at King’s College London,” wrote Mr Dyson in a statement addressing his workforce.

“The World Health Organisation reports “in 2012 around seven million people dies – one in eight of total global deaths – as a result of air pollution exposure”. It is our obligation to offer a solution to the world’s largest single environmental risk. I look forward to showing you all what I hope will be something quite unique and better, in due course!”

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Build UK approves CITB levy

The CITB has received a boost of support from Build UK, with its members voting for a continuation of the levy.

With close results coming in from construction authorities and companies, over the effectiveness of the CITB, the Build UK vote was crucial in securing the continuation of the construction training board.

Over the last 18 month, Build UK has been consulting with members on their views on the CITB and the levy, and members have voted for the continuation of the CITB levy as set out in the consensus question.

However, as with the FMB’s backing, Build UK’s support is conditional to reform within the Board.

Whilst a significant majority of members supported the continuation of the Levy, Build UK has made it clear in their letter to CITB that this support is subject to the implementation of a clear reform programme.

Reforms that are expected from Build UK include the reorganisation of the Board in order to provide a clear plan with measurable objectives, and a better focus on core activities. Build UK calls for a review into CITB governance to enable industry to contribute to the direction and delivery of the strategic plan, through industry representation on the Board, rationalisation and accountability.

BuildUK said: “There is now an opportunity to build on the foundations of CITB, by accepting the recommendations of the various reports to create a strong, effective skills framework that will benefit the whole industry.”

The support of Build UK comes shortly after the launch of a new campaign by the two bodies to encourage more people to choose a career in construction.

Launched this week, Inspiring Construction provides employers with information, tools and advice to promote construction careers, with Build UK and CITB calling on the whole industry to get involved.

The campaign has drawn on the enthusiasm of people already in the construction industry to help promote construction to the next generation.

By exploring a new approach to recruitment and appealing to young people through employers and industry representatives, it is hoped to reduce the skills gap. Employers wanted to see a more engaging approach to recruitment, showcasing the pride and passion, which makes the construction industry so vibrant.

Suzannah Nichol MBE, Chief Executive of Build UK said: “Industry is committed to changing the way we recruit people into our industry, and I’m delighted that Inspiring Construction provides employers with the tools and resources to deliver inspirational careers engagements to the next generation across the nation. Together we can promote the incredible opportunities we have to offer and share our love of construction.”

Sarah Beale, Chief Executive of CITB, said: “Inspiring Construction is all about creating a new mode of recruitment. Through great tools and services such as Construction Ambassadors and Go Construct Matching Service we want to encourage employers of all sizes to get involved. Good information about construction careers isn’t enough, we must inspire the future generation through our passion and drive.”

 

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A27 major upgrade announced

A major upgrade has been announced for the eastern A27, which will improve journey times for the 26,000 drivers who use the route.

The £75M upgrade will see nine miles of the Sussex road improved, comprising four junctions between Lewes and Polegate. A section of the Polegate bypass will also be upgraded, providing a dual carriageway, with walking and cycling facilities improved across the whole stretch.

Highways England put the plans forward for public consultation last year, with 78 per cent of respondents backing the need for improvements. The results of the consultation have now been released and preferred options identified.

Improvement works will include widening several areas of the route, such as Drusillas Roundabout and the dual carriageway works, with an upgraded, signalised junction at Polegate; junction improvements, comprising right turn lanes at Gainsborough Lane junction, and easier access and egress to the A27 at Wilmington; plus significant enhancements to the walking and cycle routes along the nine mile stretch, including a new pedestrian and cycle path between Firle and Polegate.

The improvements come as part of the government’s £15Bn investment in roads strategy, aimed at making journeys easier, quicker and safer.

Highways England Project Manager Tom Beasley said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part in our consultation. It’s great to see that there is such strong backing for improvements to this section of the A27, and there were some really good ideas put forward. People’s input has helped to shape our plans and we’ve made some key changes to our proposals to make sure they deliver the biggest benefit. In particular we’ve prioritised improvements at Polegate including the Gainsborough Lane junction, over the Selmeston bypass option and introduced a new enhanced option for upgrading the Wilmington junction – all as a result of people’s input. There will be an opportunity for people to see more detailed plans when we present the final designs at public exhibition events next year.”

 

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Reducing Utility Strikes

Construction companies work hard to avoid striking buried cables and pipes when they excavate – the reasons are obvious: cable strikes can cause harm to workers, as well as damage to underground utilities.  A key element in reducing the rate of damage to buried cables and pipes has been logging the data collected by advanced Cable Avoidance Tools (CATs), and using that data to improve on-site behaviour.  For several years, managers and supervisors have been able to recover data logs from CATs and see how well they have been used.  Major contractors who have incorporated this into their standard work practices have consistently reported reductions in the rate of damage when excavating.

Despite this success, contractors have discovered two big obstacles to realising further improvements:

1. no easy way to collect data from all their operators and analyse it comparatively, and,
2. a delay between the CATs being used, and the data being analysed.

Both these obstacles are serious problems.  If it’s onerous to collect all the data, and to perform comparisons then it is much less likely to be done.  The process can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.  Not every team will have access to a suitable computer and internet connection to upload the data, and these end-of-day tasks can be overlooked.  For larger contractors, these challenges are particularly severe.

The greater the delay between poor practice occurring and it being identified, the greater the exposure to the risk of cable strikes.  Some companies have worked to address these obstacles with changes to working practices, for example having daily uploads of data, or using a mobile app to e-mail the results to a central server.  However, these approaches do not address the burden of data collection and aggregation, or the need for rapid analysis.

The way forward

To overcome these challenges, a leading manufacturer of cable avoidance tools, Radiodetection, has developed a revolutionary system that requires minimal intervention to collect and consolidate the data for all CATs in a company.  This data is provided to managers and supervisors in near real-time via a standard web browser.

The system works by using a standard mobile device, Apple or Android, that connects to the CAT via Bluetooth.  The mobile device extracts the data logs form the CAT, and then sends the data to a secure cloud.  When the data is in the cloud, it can be accessed using a web-browser.  The system is designed so that it needs no intervention from the operator: so long as the mobile device is paired and within range, the data upload to the cloud is automatic and immediate.

In customer trials of the system, it’s become clear that managers are routinely checking the quality of use of the CATs before the team leaves site.  If the tools have not been used correctly, the team is instructed to re-do the scanning immediately.  This closes the quality-improvement loop, and significantly reduces the risk that buried services have not been identified.

Online systems such as this need to be designed with security as a primary concern.  The system must comply with legislation regarding the transmission and storage of personal information, and it must also ensure the confidential company information is kept secure and private.  Radiodetection has used the latest security techniques and web standards to ensure that its system is secure and safe.  The system uses secure transmission of all data, encrypted storage of personal information, and highly secure physical locations for its servers.  The system is also periodically tested for weaknesses by an external security specialist.

Summary

Damaging underground pipes and cables when excavating is a serious and expensive problem of growing importance. By focusing on three key straightforward steps companies can significantly reduce the risk of damage and harm:

1. Use the best cable detection tools
2. Develop excellent working procedures and ensure that people are trained
3. Change on-site behaviours by effective supervision and monitoring

Radiodetection’s new online tool, C.A.T Manager Online, revolutionises the ability of companies to supervise and monitor effectively the work that their teams do.  The quality of work can be monitored and assessed centrally, and corrective action taken if necessary before teams have left the site.

For more information, check out: http://ift.tt/2ycAC3u

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Interserve secures HCA Partner place

Interserve has announced it has won a place on the panel supporting the Homes and Communities Agency.

The international support services and construction group, will be part of the Agency’s £8Bn Delivery Partner Panel 3 (DPP3) Framework.

Interserve is a new entrant into the panel, consisting of 70 leading national and regional housing developers and contractors. The DPP3 is designed to provide procurement solutions to the Agency, speeding up the delivery of projects, with all services necessary to construct housing and associated infrastructure, provided by the Panel.

To be delivered over four years, the framework is divided into regional lots, and Interserve has been appointed to all five regions.

The aim of the framework is to speed up delivery of residential and mixed-use developments on public sector land as part of the UK government’s plan to increase housing provision through private sector involvement.

As part of the framework, public sector bodies including central government and local authorities, will be able to seek advice from Interserve at the earliest stages of a project, subsequently working closely with delivery panel members to develop housing-led sites and associated infrastructure.

Gordon Kew, Managing Director at Interserve, said: “Our success in winning a place on this framework highlights our ability to deliver complex projects for our customers. We look forward to advising panel users from the very start of their procurement journey to help solve problems, add value and ultimately deliver quality developments that achieve both time and cost savings.”

HCA has used Delivery Partner Panels for the last six years, delivering 45,000 homes on 250 sites. The framework is estimated to cover an £8Bn spend, which has doubled since the original £4Bn estimate, with the HCA taking on more responsibility for mixed-use tenure schemes.

DPP3 is available free of charge to a wide range of local authorities, registered providers and other public sector bodies including central government departments, NHS Trusts and educational establishments to help them streamline their procurement process. By providing access to a pre-qualified list of housing developers, the panel makes procurement far more efficient, delivering significant time, cost and resource savings.

HCA Chief Executive Nick Walkley said: “This autumn, the HCA will relaunch as Homes England with the ambition of creating a better housing market. We’re determined to get more homes built now and increase the rate of future development.

“So we hope as many local authorities and public bodies as possible use our improved Delivery Partner Panel to increase the pace of construction of new homes, while saving time, effort and costs.”

DPP3 will run from 31 July 2017 for a period of four years. A full list of members is available on the Delivery Partner Panel page on the HCA website.

 

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Runway restoration unveiled at RAF Valley, Anglesey

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has this week unveiled a newly restored runway at RAF Valley during a trip to Anglesey, Wales.

Currently, RAF Valley provides pilots with advanced fast jet training. And yet, while existing infrastructure was adequate for Hawk aircraft, the runway required a comprehensive overhaul to accommodate training in Tornado and Typhoon fighters.

The £20M refurbishment has also seen the creation of a new section of air-side perimeter road, in addition to visual aids, aeronautical lighting and accompanying signage. Crucially, these measures will help prolong RAF Valley’s lifespan by some 25 years.

“This famous runway has been an integral part of the careers of generations of fast-jet pilots who have seen action across the world and are currently leading RAF strikes against Daesh,” said Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon. “I’m delighted that this investment will see the runway play that vital role for at least another 25 years, training new pilots in the skills they need to help keep us safe when flying the next generation of aircraft.”

UK Government Minister for Wales Guto Bebb added: “This £20M investment in the runway is a huge boost to RAF Valley. It further demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to defence in Wales and the North Wales economy.

“It is great to see Wales playing such an important role in the advancement of our defence services and with an extra 25 years now on the lifespan of this site, the future of RAF Valley and the local economy remains strong.”

Meanwhile, a newly-refurbished hangar at RAF Valley will house three brand new Jupiter helicopters, each of which will be used to train pilots across all three services as part of the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS). The state-of-the-art Airbus helicopters, which replicate the cockpits and controls of front-line aircraft, will take to the skies later this year.

The hangar refurbishment forms part of an infrastructure improvement programme, delivered through the UKMFTS at both RAF Valley and RAF Shawbury, and worth an estimated £80M.

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Major A21 upgrade between Tonbridge and Pembury opens

Around 35,000 commuters are expected to benefit from a major upgrade to the A21 linking Hastings to London via Tonbridge and Pembury.

It is thought that the new dual carriage, which opened to motorists earlier on in the month, will hasten journey times, enhance road safety, lessen congestion and boost the local economy.

“This is another missing link in the country’s road network filled in,” said David Haimes, Regional Investment Programme Director at Highways England. “For decades, the single carriageway section of the A21 between Tonbridge and Pembury has been a source of daily congestion, delaying drivers and frustrating business who depend on the road. That changes today.

“These A21 improvements are another great achievement for Highways England’s delivery of the first Road Investment Strategy, the biggest road investment for a generation. I hope the people of Kent enjoy driving on their new improved A21.”

As part of the project infrastructure specialist Balfour Beatty built two brand new junctions, improving accessibility to the A21 for neighbouring residents while introducing dedicated facilities for pedestrian, equestrian and cyclist use.

Crucially, the A21 spans an Area of Natural Outstanding Beauty, which required Balfour Beatty to adhere to the strictest environmental standards possible. Twice the amount of woodland was translocated rather than removed, with pioneering techniques employed to preserve the prevailing ecological make up.

Over the course of the upgrade Balfour Beatty also created 11 graduate placements alongside five apprenticeships and six work experience placements, bringing economic benefit to the surrounding community.

George Pargeter, Balfour Beatty’s Project Director on the A21 Tonbridge to Pembury Project, had this to say: “We are delighted to announce the completion of the A21 project, enabling the local community and travelling public to enjoy the benefits of the new dual carriageway.

“This has been a complex project which presented a number of challenges, however our expertise and collaboration with Highways England has enabled us to successfully and safely deliver a high quality, more streamlined route connecting Hastings and London.”

In recent months road-goers have experienced a phased opening, which kicked-off with the partial unveiling of a brand new flyover on Longfield Road last July. But with the A21 now fully open, motorists are finally able to take full advantage of faster, safer road network.

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Ambitious housing package for Angus

A significant and ambitious investment in housing has been secured for Angus.

More than 600 new homes will be built by the Council and local housing associations over the next five years, providing affordable and sustainable accommodation for local residents.

The local community committee approved the Council’s Local Housing Strategy and Strategic Investment Plan this week, and the hope is that the strategy will help drive the delivery of new homes for people in Angus.

Communities convener, councillor Craig Fotheringham said: “We will improve the provision of affordable housing across Angus by building houses of the highest quality in the places where people need them most. Doing so will further enhance Angus’ ever-growing reputation as a great place to live, work and visit. Accessibility and energy efficiency will be the cornerstones of our housing design, so that we deliver homes that will stand the test of time for the benefit of people now and in future generations.”

The Local Housing Strategy sets out how housing will be improved in the local area. With the supply of affordable homes increased to help match demand, as well as providing appropriate accommodation, enabling people to live independent lives.

The strategy also incorporates an agenda to improve energy efficiency in housing, helping to tackle fuel poverty and reduce domestic emissions

Objectives of the strategy comprise the delivery of 124 affordable homes each year over the next five years (by Angus Council and Housing Associations), including more than 30 adaptable/specialised homes.

Following a positive report from tenants on the quality of housing provided by Angus Council, communities vice-convener, councillor Lois Speed said: “We are very pleased that 83% of our tenants are satisfied with the service they receive, but we are determined to ensure that we keep improving.”

 

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Last chance for CITB, says FMB

A stark warning has been given to the CITB by the FMB, calling for it to reform of lose the support of the construction industry.

Trying times have been underway for the training board, with several high profile members and industry heads, decrying the board and saying it was not fit for purpose.

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has officially confirmed its support to the CITB, through its consensus process, however the letter of support includes a warning that it has one last chance to fundamentally reform and provide quality training for the construction industry.

After submitting its official letter to the CITB’s Chief Executive Sarah Beale, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “FMB members are divided regarding the future of CITB – some want to see it continue and others want to see it abolished but all agree that it is not currently working for the industry’s smaller firms. Yes, the FMB has decided to give its support for the continuation of the levy but we do not want this support to be interpreted as support for the status quo. The CITB is broken and we must all pitch in to ensure we fix it. The stakes couldn’t be higher because unless we get this right, the construction skills crisis will continue to worsen and the Government will be unable to meet its ambitious house building and infrastructure objectives.”

Berry continued: “Crucial to the future success of the CITB is a review of its governance structure. It is shocking that the CITB Board contains only one representative from an SME construction firm. Furthermore, this individual is a Human Resources professional rather than someone with an SME contractor background. Given that SME firms make up 98% of the construction industry and train two-thirds of all apprentices, the FMB wants to see this reflected at Board level with at least half of its members being SME contractor representatives. If we get the governance structure right, the CITB will automatically start to better reflect the needs of small construction firms. In a recent survey of FMB members, 61% said that the CITB would become more effective if it ensured the majority of representatives on the CITB Board were from small or micro construction firms. It is the FMB’s understanding that a recommendation to increase SME representation on the CITB Board will also be reflected in the Government’s ITB Review which is expected to be published in October 2017.”

Berry concluded: “The need for reform doesn’t end with the CITB’s governance – we also need to see a simplification of the grant scheme. Too few SME levy payers are claiming back CITB grants and this is because the process is too complicated and bureaucratic. The CITB needs to make all of its processes as simple and straightforward as possible. Unlike larger firms, most SMEs cannot afford to employ people who dedicate their time to drafting CITB grant applications in order to ensure their firm maximises all opportunities to claim back grants. If we want SMEs to train more apprentices and upskill their workforce, all forms of CITB grant funding pots need to be as easy to access as the new CITB Flexible Fund.”

The letter of support was delivered following FMB consultation with its members at board meetings and through a survey. Results from the consultation showed that members were severely divided in their opinions, with just one member making the difference (50.3% to 49.7%) in support of the levy.

The results show that FMB members are very dissatisfied with the service the CITB is providing and this has led to the FMB calling the CITB to account and will measure its performance over the coming months. The letter directly warns the CITB: “if the organisation does not achieve better outcomes, the FMB will recommend to its members that we remove our support during the next consensus process in three years’ time.”

The FMB is calling for a governance review and the inclusion of SMEs within the board, simplification of the grant scheme, for the board to be a champion of high-quality training right across GB, particularly in relation to apprenticeships, and to place a better emphasis on its work in Scotland.

 

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Glenigan: Construction activity in Scotland the fastest growing in the UK

During the summer months, the Scottish Construction Monitor reported that the rise in confidence – so evident in the three previous surveys – had dropped-off. And yet, according to Glenigan, fears over future job prospects might be “misplaced”.

August 2017 saw the value of underlying project starts in Scotland skyrocket 29% – the single biggest rise in any region of the UK – and this trend looks set to continue. “Indeed, the data reveals construction activity in Scotland is growing faster than anywhere else in the UK,” confirmed Allan Wilen, Economics Director at Glenigan.

“Levels of public sector construction spending remain high in Scotland compared to England. We expect activity to accelerate towards the end of this year as greater economic certainty should support growth in the nation in 2017, even if the commercial sector is less buoyant than it was a couple of years ago.”

Here, Glenigan identified large-scale infrastructure projects – the £745M Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), for instance – as the root cause, citing their mammoth contribution to Scottish construction output.

Earlier in the year, Scottish Building Federation President Stephen Kemp gave a fairly pessimistic appraisal however: “There is a feeling that the underlying fundamentals of the industry are not nearly as strong as record output figures might suggest. We know that a period of record output from major infrastructure projects such as the AWPR and the Queensferry Crossing is about to come to an end. Strip away those numbers and the performance of other key sectors of the industry such as housing and private commercial don’t look that strong.”

He’s not wrong. ONS data for the first half of 2017 showed that growth in both the public and private residential sectors had slowed. But Glenigan has taken into account new project starts and the findings suggest a spurt in construction output over the coming weeks and months. “There has been a strong rise in industrial project starts so far this year in Scotland and starts are up in eight out of the 11 sectors monitored by Glenigan,” said Mr Wilen.

As high-profile infrastructure projects – most recently the landmark Queensferry Crossing – draw to a close, new projects rise to take their place. Transport Scotland has planned a £3Bn improvement programme, for example, which will upgrade the A9 between Perth and Inverness and boost output even further.

The outlook is far greener than some would have you believe and, with a groundswell of schemes in the works, that trend looks set to continue.

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McAvoy to helm £8.2M Concordia Academy design and offsite build

The McAvoy Group is to design and build offsite a brand new £8.2M 630-place primary school on behalf of Concordia Academy in Romford, East London.

The 2,972sq m three-form entry free school is being funded through the Department for Education via the Education and Skills Funding Agency, and will be operated by REAch2 Academy Trust – the largest primary only academy trust in the UK. Crucially, with local population on the increase, Concordia Academy will help to address an urgent need for primary school places in the South East.

Offsite construction will enable the new school to be built atop a cramped brownfield site. Once built, a 1.5 metre gap will separate the site boundary from the building’s front elevation, making this a potentially disruptive project for conventional construction techniques. Offsite construction will help minimise that disruption and reduce build time to 12 short months.

Raymond Millar, Construction Director at McAvoy, was on-hand to explain more: “We are delighted to be building this wonderful new school which will provide much needed primary school places for the local community in Romford. We will be using the latest advances in education design and offsite construction to create an inspiring environment for teaching and learning, and an outstanding school to help every child realise their highest aspirations.

“Offsite construction offers clear benefits for the delivery of new education facilities. On this project, the solution from McAvoy is enabling the development of a very restricted and challenging brownfield site, and with much less disruption to the local community. It offers the opportunity for increased value for money, greater quality control and programme benefits because the construction work can progress offsite in the factory while groundworks are put in place on site. Speed of construction is key when the demand for school places continues to rise.”

The first of 67 modules will arrive on site during the autumn months. Meanwhile, a suite of temporary school buildings will house Concordia Academy’s classes until the official opening in September 2018.

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Buy to Rent development for MediaCity underway

Work is due to start in October on a new ‘build to rent’ development in Salford’s Media City.

The development is being brought forward by a new partnership of Atlas Residential and IP Investment Management, with Bouygues UK as the Main Contractor and Peel Land & Property as Developer.

The project will be MediaCityUK’s first forward funded build-to-rent development and will comprise a mix of apartments on a £55M waterfront site. Due to start construction this October, the building will feature 238 contemporary apartments, benefitting from the established retail, leisure and business area within MediaCityUK. Continued demand for properties within this regeneration district is high, with a recent announcement seeing Kellogg relocating its headquarters to the site from Trafford, and of course our own high profile move to occupy offices within the development.

The development will provide a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom high quality properties offering first class residential amenities from an onsite club lounge to an outdoor landscaped terrace facing the waterfront.

This is Atlas’ third BtR investment following its projects in and Birmingham, and an overall double first as there has been no purpose built PRS development in MediaCityUK until now.

In a new partnership, Atlas Residential (“Atlas”) and IP Investment Management (“IPIM”) have acquired a £55m GDV waterfront private rented sector development site in MediaCityUK, Salford, from Peel Land & Property (“Peel”).

Bouygues UK (“Bouygues”) are the contractor and Peel will act as the developer of what will be MediaCityUK’s first forward funded build to rent development.

This is Atlas’ third BtR investment following its projects in Southampton (which is operational this month) and Birmingham, but it is an overall double first because until now there has been no purpose built PRS development in MediaCityUK. Furthermore, this represents a new partnership for Atlas & IPIM, which both parties intend to replicate by capitalising on the success of this deal with further acquisitions.

IPIM’s funds focus on acquiring opportunistic and value add investments in alternative sectors including student accommodation, healthcare, PRS and hotels in Europe, the US and Australia. To date IPIM’s investments in UK markets have comprised the funding of nine student accommodation assets totalling 1,431 beds with a GDV of over £160 million. The acquisition of this site in MediaCityUK represents IPIM’s first investment in the UK PRS sector, where it hopes to replicate the success of its investments in US multifamily.

Jonathon Ivory, Managing Director at Atlas commented: “This acquisition continues Atlas’ thematic ‘first mover advantage’ strategy which we have successfully executed in both Southampton and Birmingham already. We consider MediaCityUK to be a core part of the Greater Manchester regeneration story and by acquiring this asset are pleased to be participating in the success of Peel’s impressive master planned vision.

“Equally, we are excited to be partnering with IPIM who share our goal of seeking out value and opportunities in regions throughout the UK that display the same fundamentals that we look for in our US acquisitions, namely positive population growth in job engine locations with excellent transportation combined with an acute supply / demand housing imbalance.”

Selina Williams, Investment Director at IP Investment Management commented: “We have been monitoring the UK PRS sector for some time, to identify the right operator partner and a site that meets our investment criteria for our first acquisition. The UK PRS sector is a natural progression following our investments in direct-let student accommodation. The calibre of the operator is critical to the success of a PRS investment, and we have every confidence that in Atlas we’ve found a partner who will be able to capitalise on their longstanding experience in the US to deliver a tenant-focused building in the UK. We look forward to working with Atlas on this project, which we hope will be the first of many as we continue to look for new opportunities to acquire well located sites into 2018.”

 

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How to make a successful career change within the construction industry

For years, the construction industry has been plagued by an acute skills shortage. The Federation of Master Builders’ State of Trade Survey Q4 2016 revealed a shortage of skilled workers in carpentry and bricklaying with roles in plumbing and roofing also identified as being particularly difficult to fill.

Meanwhile, figures released by the Mayor of London earlier in the year showed that one in four construction workers in London are from the EU. This makes up an enormous 95,000 workers throughout the sector – many of whom may choose to leave the country as Brexit negotiations wage on.

This means that the capital’s construction industry is set to need 13,000 new workers each year until 2021 to close this skills gap and to meet the market’s demands.

And it’s not just London where demand for skilled staff is high. The Queen’s Speech earlier this year demonstrated an ongoing commitment to infrastructure projects across the country, with plans to continue working on the HS2 rail network and promises of more new homes to be built announced in the speech in June.

Taking each of these factors into account, the construction industry offers incredibly attractive prospects at this specific moment in time. Regardless of the area of the industry you wish to work in, there are countless opportunities to progress and grow your career at a fast pace.

Redirecting your career in construction

Unfortunately, there has long been a broad lack of understanding about what jobs are available in the construction industry, with jobs in the sector often portrayed as being limited to manual labour roles based on a construction site.

You may have found yourself in a line of work that doesn’t feel right for you, or perhaps you’re simply feeling disinterested with your job after years in a role that has started to become monotonous – but are keen to stay working within the construction industry all the same.

It might be time to make a move. You can start by looking at vacancies throughout the construction industry, but with such poor education and information around what jobs are on offer this can be overwhelming to say the least.

Instead, you should start by considering where your existing soft skills and personal attributes could be put to best use. Would you be happier managing an entire team on a construction site, for example, or working alone on tasks as a plumber or a painter?

Finding a role that’s suited to your skillset

Of course, you shouldn’t pursue a specific career path simply based on your ability to manage others, or your preference to work unassisted and manage your own workload.

You need to think carefully about how each of your soft skills can work together harmoniously to support you in finding a rewarding new role. For example, you’ll need strong communication skills in order to work as either a site manager or a bricklayer – however, the other soft skills you’ll need to succeed in each role are widely different aside from this.

If you’re finding it hard to connect each of your soft skills together, try speaking to a construction recruitment specialist to talk through all of your options at greater length. You could also use Randstad’s construction career match tool to help you narrow down your potential career paths, which works by allowing users to select their top three soft skills, and then suggests job matches based on each of these. The results will also provide a comprehensive job description, experience and requirements, typical career routes and a salary guide.

Once you’ve found a role that appeals to each of your abilities, try speaking to colleagues or reaching out to those in your wider network who have experience in that area. You can then begin building a personal career plan outlining the appropriate skills and experience you’ll need to develop in order to succeed in your chosen career path.

 

Article submitted by: Owen Goodhead, managing director at Randstad Construction, Property and Engineering

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International standards will boost infrastructure investment: RICS

RICS has called for the introduction of global standards to be applied to infrastructure works in the UK.

The leading professional infrastructure body says that the UK can only benefit from the adoption of international standards, particularly in light of Brexit, and if the UK is to attract more private infrastructure investment.

According to RICS, public sector spending is likely to fall and we need to encourage more private sector spending.

Key highlights of the report include:

• Public investment in infrastructure is expected to fall.
• International standards will provide certainty and assurance amid ongoing Brexit talks.
• Government ‘must be proactive’ in attracting investors to deliver infrastructure.

Launched at the Labour Party Conference this week, the paper titled “Attracting Infrastructure Investment Through International Standards”, sets out the case for using International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS) to attract private investment in infrastructure projects.

RICS state that with the UK’s ageing infrastructure, and public sector investment falling from 3.2% in 2010 to 1.4% of GDP in 2020, the private sector has a crucial role to play in delivering upgraded infrastructure, and bringing in international standards will encourage this investment.

ICMS is a key tool in managing investments, providing certainty to industry and attracting investment.

In the paper, RICS also calls for the government to proactively support infrastructure, by identifying projects and providing guarantees to investors of minimised risk during the construction process, including seeking cross-party support for projects.

Alan Muse, RICS Global Director, Built Environment, said: “This paper clearly shows the benefits of adopting international standards and lays out constructive steps that can be taken to secure investment and ensure the UK remains an attractive option as Brexit negotiations continue.

“Coming in the wake of the Institute for Government’s report last week which argued that, with infrastructure investment set to hit £250bn in the next five years, the government ‘cannot afford expensive mistakes and costly delays’, there is a clear need for global standards which will help manage costs while delivering clarity and certainty.

“RICS is ready to work with government, lenders and industry to develop and deliver these new international standards, which will ultimately unlock the private finance needed to help infrastructure thrive.

Mo Rahee, RICS Infrastructure Policy Manager said: “Like the International Financial Reporting Standard, the International Construction Measurement Standard provides a level of certainty – through transparency –  to investors.  Effective and accurate reporting of capital expenditure can only benefit the construction sector by providing investors with accurate information that inform their investment decision process.

“Government can also support the sector by identifying projects that will generate long-term revenues and have cross-party support. This will be vital to ensure infrastructure is updated and new projects are delivered.”

Download the full paper here.

 

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Northern digital railway transforming the trans-Pennine route

The Government has announced plans to invest in Britain’s first digital intercity railway.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has confirmed the Trans-Pennine route, running between Leeds and Manchester, will benefit from major upgrades that will slash journey times. Part of the development will see the introduction of digital signalling technology, which is already in operation on the London Underground, making it the first digitally controlled intercity rail line in the country.

The investment is part of a record £13Bn committed by the government to improve journeys across the region.

The upgrades come as part of the Great North Rail Project, which will include journeys to York from 2022 – and will slash journey times between Leeds and Manchester to 40 minutes.

Some £5M in investment will be given to Network Rail to develop proposals for embedding the digital technology between Manchester and York, and help deliver a more reliable and safer railway. This includes looking at a system of advanced train traffic management – so that a computer works out how to route the trains most efficiently along the line.

The investment in northern rail routes comes as part of the huge modernisation of rail infrastructure, perhaps the biggest investment since the steam age, seeing £40Bn directed to improve the rail network across the country.

This work also sees the development of HS2 to include networks in the north, while Pacer trains will be scrapped across the region in 2019

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “We are about to see a digital revolution in our railways, and we want the north to lead the way.

“New technology on the Manchester to York route will help us deliver a more reliable and safer railway, with more space for passengers.

“Travel will be transformed across the north as we invest £13Bn to improve journeys, expand our motorways, scrap the outdated Pacer trains, and spend £55Bn on HS2 to cut journey times between our great northern cities.”

Work to deliver improvements to the TransPennine railway line have already begun, with the Great North Rail Project already delivering improved services between Liverpool and Manchester, with the fastest journey cut by 15 minutes, new direct services between Manchester Airport and Glasgow, and the upgrade of Manchester Victoria station.

The government is working with Rail North and councils across the region on the project, and Network Rail is working on plans for the upgrade.

 

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Royal Navy aids British Virgin Islands recovery post-Hurricane Irma

Royal Navy personnel from HMS Ocean are aiding the relief effort on the British Virgin Islands post-Hurricane Irma, clearing debris from the now ravaged Governmental Central Administration Complex.

Royal Engineers, sailors and engineers are currently salvaging documents and equipment under the authority of the 59 Commando Squadron.

The sailors themselves were ferried onto Tortola – largest of the British Virgin Islands – by 1 Assault Group Royal Marines with the aid of Oceans Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel. Later, RFA Mounts Bay lent its support, delivering large quantities of building materials and equipment via its organic Mexeflote.

It was a perfect example of real world interoperability, with Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Engineers, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Royal Logistics Corps each combining their efforts to make a lasting difference on the British Virgin Islands within two short hours.

Returning the Governmental Central Administration Complex to good working order is an absolute imperative. It will allow the various departments of government to function when they are most needed. During the arrival, heads of department were on-hand to advise where building materials should be kept.

Understandably, it’s a monumental undertaking. Both Irma and its sister storm Maria left Tortola devastated. According to Arriel Donovan, Facilities Manager at the Governmental Central Administration Complex: “The offices here have been ripped apart. We are salvaging what we can but so much has been completely destroyed.”

Royal Navy personnel are playing their part however, as Mr Donovan later explained: “The guys here today have already made a good start on the ground floor. We couldn’t comprehend starting without their help. We need this building up and running.”

As the relief effort across the British Virgin Islands shifts away from the emergency response and towards restoration, government infrastructure will be critical to ensure a timely recovery for the British Virgin Islands.

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Tests, drugs and the payroll – understanding your obligations as an employer

Suzannah Robin is a drug and alcohol safety expert at AlcoDigital. She works with dozens of corporate and governmental organisations addressing their alcohol and drugs testing needs. For the last 14 years she has helped numerous businesses implement alcohol and drug testing policies for their staff through certified training programmes. Here she explains what an employer’s obligations are when it comes to drugs in the workplace and describes the best methods for testing staff.

With the introduction in recent years of roadside drug testing, and the surge in drug-related accidents at work, employers are coming under increasing pressure to ensure their staff are fit to work, and that health and safety aren’t compromised as a result of an individual being impaired.

According to a survey carried out in 2015 on employees from a range of sectors, nearly a third of them admitted using drugs at work, with a significant number of them claiming to be ‘under the influence’ every working day. In fact, many of those admitting to taking drugs were using cannabis or other illegal narcotics.

Although there is still no legal requirement for an employer to adopt a drug or alcohol testing policy, they do have an obligation to maintain a safe working environment as part of the Health & Safety at Work Act – and, as these statistics prove, drugs could certainly be an issue in any workplace if practices for detecting misuse aren’t implemented.

If carried out with the proper guidance and training, a drug testing policy will not only make your workplace safer, it will also help to reduce absenteeism and increase worker productivity. But how do you know what makes a good drug testing policy?

Drug tests – know the pros and cons

With numerous options available, it isn’t always immediately apparent which drug-testing method will be the most suitable for meeting your company’s requirements.

The first step before making any commitments to using a certain testing method is to fully understand the pros and cons for each type of drug test available. So whilst you may already have an idea about what drug testing method you will use, understanding the various benefits and restrictions of each version will truly help you to establish which one will be the most suitable for your requirements.

One of the most popular choices for drug testing – but not always the most effective – is testing urine samples. For many years these have been used as a reliable and cost-effective form of drug testing providing instant results that can be undertaken in-house.

However, whilst urine tests are ideal for implementing random testing policies, and can help to prevent incidents from happening in the first place, this form of testing is not without its limitations. For example, a urine test will often not reveal if an individual has consumed drugs in the last two hours. So, in the event that an incident occurred in the workplace, a urine test obtained immediately afterwards will not determine if the employee was impaired by drugs at the time the incident actually took place.

Blood testing is the most accurate method of establishing what drugs are in a person’s system – but the medical training and laboratory analysis required can mean it is beyond the reach for company testing. Hair testing can give you historic data of what drugs a person has consumed – but not from the most recent few weeks.

For this reason, oral fluid collection has been established as the go-to method of drug-testing. With a far simpler collection process, which can be observed at all times and is therefore less susceptible to tampering, the window of detection for the drugs in saliva mimics that of blood testing making it the method of choice for UK Police roadside testing, and companies implementing drug screening policies.

To test or not to test?

One of the things that concerns companies from the outset is how their employees are going to react to a new testing policy being introduced.

Of course, there may be some reluctance from staff so employers should always communicate clearly with them before introducing new policies, encouraging staff to declare any medical or dependency issues that could potentially affect a drug test. Ensuring your workforce fully understand the rationale behind the decision, and what the potential consequences of a positive test result will be are pivotal to operating a best practice policy.

But how often should you test? As a minimum, companies should aim to test 100% of their workforce every 12 months. A pre-employment test will set in place the expectations for new staff joining the company, establishing from day one the company policy on drugs in the workplace. The policies and testing methods used subsequently would then depend on your day-to-day business activities and employees’ duties. For example, a company that employs commercial drivers should always have a regular testing policy in place for both drugs and alcohol.

Why random testing?

Random testing will enable an employer to form a basic consent agreement with their staff, acting as a deterrent, and encouraging them to be more aware of what they are consuming and how this could have an impact on their lives, and those around them. In turn, it will create a safer, healthier and more stable working environment and safeguard your business from the potential fallout of lost revenue and reputational damage.

Best practice policy and training

Alongside setting a drug testing policy for your business is the question of exactly how it will be put into practice on a day-to-day basis.

Whilst knowledge and information is essential to determining appropriate testing methods, properly training personnel to carry out tests is absolutely essential for making sure that they are fully prepared and capable of working within the recommended guidelines. This is particularly important in the event that a member of staff provides a positive result and this information is going to be relied upon for a future disciplinary or tribunal hearing.

AlcoDigital operates Alcohol and Drugs Testing in the Workplace training courses for companies across the UK.

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A Blueprint for Bolton: Council unveils £1Bn town centre masterplan

Bolton Council has unveiled a brand new £1Bn blueprint which will see its town centre transformed over a period of decades.

The proposed measures underpin a newly published masterplan – courtesy of Bolton Council – which looks to deliver 1,800 new homes and 7,400 new jobs, stimulating economic growth worth an estimated £412M across five strategic sites.

The sites in question – Trinity Quarter, Cheadle Square, Crompton Place, Church Wharf and Croal Valley – will each benefit from the landmark investment, with Grade A office accommodation, retail space and residential developments of all shapes and sizes in the works.

Here, Bolton Council hopes to revitalize its town centre and attract more families, young professionals, older people and students into the area.

“This masterplan shows how forward thinking and ambitious this council really is,” said Councillor Cliff Morris, Leader of Bolton Council. “We now want to get to work as quickly as possible. We are already speaking to a number of developers and partners about delivering the different schemes outlined in the framework.

“Although it is ambitious we are confident that this is an achievable vision that identifies key areas of the town centre, and it will be a game-changer in terms of transforming the centre of Bolton.”

An initial outline was announced in July, with the local authority securing £100M of financial backing in the months following. That amount will enable a raft of preparatory works including site assembly, public realm improvements and accompanying infrastructure. It is thought that the remainder of the redevelopment will likely be funded by private sector investors.

“It is no secret that town centres across the country continue to face tough challenges,” continued Councillor Morris. “We are also realistic that the plan may need to change and adapt over the years to reflect changing economic conditions.

“What we do know is that without the council’s direct intervention, there is a risk that the necessary pace and scale of change that is required will simply not be achieved. This is not simply looking at one or two compact areas in isolation – it is joined up, strategic planning to transform the town centre for decades to come.”

According to Bolton Council, the first stage of site clearance could start as early as spring 2018.

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Lovell to helm £45M Hatfield regeneration scheme

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has contracted regeneration specialist Lovell to carry out a comprehensive £45M redevelopment of the High View Neighbourhood Centre.

The mixed-use redevelopment – situated in Hatfield, Hertfordshire – will breath new life into the Neighbourhood Centre, which dates back to the 1950s. A tired shopping precinct will give way to high-quality retail and housing provision, and bring with it a raft of community benefits.

The regeneration is still in its infant stages however. Work now begins on a planning application to outline in detail exactly how the redevelopment will be phased. Crucially, these designs will look to preserve the existing character of central Hatfield.

It is thought that the regeneration will create 150 new homes, ranging from one-bedroom flats to three-bedroom houses. Around 1,980sq m of retail space will be made available to existing tenants and new businesses, while access to the nearby Jim McDonald Community Centre is to be greatly enhanced.

Roger Trigg, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s Executive Member for Corporate Property, said: “The absolute focus for us throughout this process has been finding the right partner to revive High View, recognising its history and place at the heart of the community.

“The redeveloped homes and business spaces will breathe new life into the area and we also hope to improve its accessibility, both locally and to other parts of the town. We are starting to develop more detailed plans and look forward to hearing what everyone thinks about the proposals later next year.”

Stephen Norton, Regional Regeneration Director at Lovell, added: “We’re very excited to have been selected to work in partnership with the local community and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council on this major regeneration programme for the High View neighbourhood centre.

“Our team has a strong record of delivering large-scale, community-focused regeneration schemes and we look forward to bringing that expertise to this important project for South Hatfield.”

Lovell has pledged to deliver significant job and training opportunities throughout the regeneration. Eight apprenticeships will be made available, in addition to a raft of construction-related skills courses for residents and various work experience placements.

A planning application for the regeneration is to be submitted in 2018 with construction set to complete by 2022.

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Cycle superhighway for London

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, has launched a consultation for a proposed cycle superhighway.

The proposed track would see the development of a segregated cycle superhighway running across west London. Comprising some six kilometres of segregated cycle lane, the superhighway would link Kensington Olympia to Brentford.

The track will bring the first high-quality segregated lane to west London, creating improved conditions for both cyclists and pedestrians, with new traffic light crossings and improvements to pedestrian crossings.

Cycle Superhighway 9 forms a key part of the Mayor’s work to encourage more Londoners to walk and cycle as he makes the capital’s streets healthier, safer and more welcoming.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “As the capital continues to grow, it is vital that we encourage more Londoners to walk and cycle to improve health, productivity and air quality. That’s why I’ve set out bold plans to change the way we look at how our transport network and committed record levels of investment to improve cycling. This new cycle superhighway will bring a high-quality segregated cycle lane to west London for the very first time. It will make a real difference in encouraging Londoners of all ages and abilities to get on their bikes and improve conditions for pedestrians across the area.”

Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “I’m delighted that we can announce nearly 6km of new segregated cycle lanes for London. Cycle Superhighway 9 will be hugely important in helping cyclists in the west travel safely and inspire many more Londoners to take up cycling for the first time. It also includes significant improvements for pedestrians that will make walking around the local area more appealing and encourage even more people to add both walking and cycling to their daily routines.”

Simon Munk, Infrastructure Campaigner, London Cycling Campaign (LCC), said: “LCC welcomes the Mayor’s plans for a new Cycle Superhighway in West London. This route will tame several dangerous junctions, enable far more people of all ages and abilities to cycle to local shops, stations and into work and extend the Cycle Superhighway network to areas where cycling demand is high but cycling infrastructure is virtually non-existent. It will help achieve the vision of a greener, healthier and less congested city set out in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and is a big step by the Mayor towards fulfilling the commitment made to LCC members and supporters to triple the extent of protected space for cycling on main roads.”

Subject to the results of this consultation, Transport for London (TfL) and partner boroughs aim to start building the cycle superhighway late next year, with further plans to expand into Hounslow.

 

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Introducing the UK Infrastructure Show 2018

We are delighted to announce the launch of the UK Infrastructure Show 2018.

Contact the team for sponsorship and exhibition opportunities today on 0845 270 7066 or exhibitions@ukinfrastructureshow.co.uk.

One of the UK’s leading infrastructure and supply chain events, the Infrastructure Show is your chance to be part of £500Bn in planned investment over the next ten years, as outlined in the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline.

This investment represents a significant opportunity for those businesses looking for supply chain opportunities across all sectors from transport through to construction and utilities.

Officially supported by CompeteFor and many major ongoing and future infrastructure projects, the UK Infrastructure Show 2018 will provide participants with a unique opportunity to engage, connect and collaborate with a vast array of key projects, decision makers and influencers representing all areas throughout the supply chain.

Following an incredibly successful 2017 show, the event is back – even bigger and better.

With more zones and more opportunities for collaboration across the supply chain, the UK Infrastructure Show 2018 boasts a huge growth in partnerships and delegates. On the back of 2017, the 2018 show has partnered with a growing number of crucial infrastructure agents and has grown to over 1,000 delegates.

Partners for next year include HS2, the largest rail infrastructure project the country has seen, TfL, Midland Connect, Tideway and many more.

The infrastructure industry covers a wide array of sectors, and with almost 600 projects in the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, there is plenty of opportunity for suppliers in this marketplace.

The Skills and Knowledge Zones at UK Infrastructure Show 2018 will give you access to many of the major projects either underway or in the pipeline, allowing you to hear directly about supply chain opportunities available. Sessions will also cover the skills and training topics specific to this industry, including BIM, EDI and apprenticeships.

 

2018 will see the show split into four Skills and Knowledge Zones, allowing you to easily choose the sessions relevant to your organisation: Moving, Living, Powering, and Connecting.

Alongside key note speakers within the infrastructure scene, the show will also provide the opportunity for visitors to investigate opportunities within the supply chain at some of these massive infrastructure projects, with each of the Project Partners having a dedicated Pavilion within the Product Showcase at the UK Infrastructure Show 2018. Come along and meet with representatives from each organisation.

Discover innovative and cutting edge solutions at the showcase of products and services, designed specifically to enhance efficiency and support the ongoing requirements of the infrastructure industry.

The networking and collaboration zones at the UK Infrastructure Show 2018 also offer you a significant opportunity to meet the event partners and discuss supply chain opportunities, expand your knowledge and create new peer contacts.

Exhibitors and sponsors will benefit from direct contact with over 1,000 delegates from across the infrastructure industry, enabling them to develop both new and existing business opportunities within this multi-billion pound marketplace.

Who should attend?:

1. Suppliers looking to work in the supply chain or improve their opportunities.
2. Prime/Tier 1 contractors looking to make supply chain connections.
3. Infrastructure project buyers.
4. Representatives from any major infrastructure project currently under way or planned for the future.
5. CompeteFor users.

Key features of this event include:

1. Product Showcase.
2. Project Partner Pavilions – including HS2, Horizon Nuclear, Midlands Connect, and Transport for London.
3. Skills and Knowledge Zones.
4. Keynote Arena.
5. CompeteFor Advice and Support Hub.
6. Prime Contractor Engagement Village.

Discover:

1. Discover exciting new products, innovative services and efficient and adaptable suppliers.
2. Develop new partnerships and working relationships.

Network:

1. Meet with representatives from our main event partners in their individual Project Pavilions.
2. Gain expert advice in the CompeteFor Advice and Support Hub.
3. Network with Tier 1 suppliers in the Prime Contractor Engagement Village.

Contact the team for sponsorship and exhibition opportunities today on 0845 270 7066 or exhibitions@ukinfrastructureshow.co.uk.

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Secure future for Port Talbot

Tata Steel and ThyssenKrupp have signed a formal agreement which could secure the future of steel manufacturing at the Port Talbot works.

The move has been welcomed by the government and unions, and hailed by the Business Secretary as an important step for the country’s steel industry.

The development of a Joint Venture between Tata and ThyssenKrupp has been progressing, and the signing of this memorandum of understanding marks the latest stage in building a pan-European steel enterprise. The company will become ThyssenKrupp Tata Steel.

It is hoped the deal will protect the long-term future of steelmaking at Tata’s site in South Wales, the 4,000 jobs based there, and the wider supply chain. The site is home to the Indian conglomerate’s strip steel business.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “The Government has been working hard with the unions to secure a sustainable future for Tata Steel in the UK, its 4,000 employees at the Port Talbot site and its supply chain.

“Today’s agreement between Tata Steel and ThyssenKrupp is an important next step in establishing their shared ambition for Port Talbot as a world-class steel manufacturer, with a focus on quality, technology and innovation.”

Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of Community and chair of the coordinating committee representing the Unite, GMB and Community unions, said: “The steel trade unions cautiously welcome this news and recognise the industrial logic of such a partnership. This would create the second biggest steel business in Europe which could deliver significant benefits for the UK.

“As always, the devil will be in the detail and we are seeking further assurances on jobs, investment and future production across the UK operations. As a priority, we will be pressing Tata to demonstrate their long term commitment to steelmaking in the UK by confirming they will invest in the reline of Port Talbot’s Blast Furnace No.5.”

Tata Steel has been working closely with the government and unions to secure a sustainable steel industry within the UK. Looking forward, it is hoped that the joint venture would also contribute to the UK vehicle manufacturers supply chain and develop innovations.

 

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Fife homes: Secured by Design

A recent study has been released by Police Scotland that confirms the pedigree of Secured by Design standards.

The study shows that 3,000 homes built to the standard in Fife, have had 87% fewer crimes recorded.

The sample of housing was taken from more than 150 Kingdom Housing Association developments across Fife, and showed a marked drop in reporting of crimes to the properties.

The homes were all built to standards set by Secured by Design (SBD), the national police crime prevention initiative, which has 200 officers and staff attached to Police Forces around the UK to ‘design out crime’ by working with architects, developers and local authority planners at the planning stage.

Turner Crescent, Methil

Features incorporated within an SBD development include: natural surveillance and limiting through movement into the layout and landscaping, and increasing the physical security of buildings, such as attack resistant doors, windows and locks to deter opportunist burglars.

The study was carried out as part of KHA’s annual meeting and celebrated the construction of 3,000 homes by the association.

Crimes included in the study were housebreaking, attempted housebreaking, (the Scottish equivalent of burglary and attempted burglary in England), sneak in thefts (access through an insecure door to steal) and opening of Lockfast Places (usually vehicles, sheds or outbuildings/garages where the locking mechanisms are overcome to gain entry for theft).

In a fantastic result for the scheme, the study shows that only 1.8% of the properties were subject to these crimes, in comparison to 14.2% of non-SBD properties.

Stuart Ward, SBD National Designing Out Crime Manager, who is responsible for implementing SBD and general crime reduction in all 13 Divisions of Police Scotland, said: “These results highlight the benefits of building to SBD security standards. Evidence suggests that SBD homes achieve significant reductions in crime and can continue to do so year-on-year.”

Dunlin Phase I

Stuart, who was the first full-time Force Architectural Liaison Officer in Fife, added: “This is especially important as most SBD developments are in social housing, many of them in deprived areas.”

Kenny McHugh, SBD Development Officer for Scotland, said: “This is a remarkable milestone for KHA and SBD in Scotland. For police, falling crime reduces demands on services and enables us to focus on other priorities. With more robust products, SBD also frees up budgets by reducing repair and maintenance costs as well as providing a long-term legacy of safer more cohesive and desirable communities, where people choose to put down roots.”

Kingdom Housing took the decision to embrace SBD security 20 years ago, and the latest results have endorsed that decision.

Bill Banks, Group Chief Executive, Kingdom Housing Association, said: “I feel all developers, and providers of new housing projects, should be adopting the SBD standards of enhanced safety and security to enhance the well-being of residents in their respective developments.

 

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UK van market remains buoyant as new car registrations slow to a crawl

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), new van registrations rose 1.5% in August to 15,619 units. And yet, the UK car market experienced a notable drop-off over the same period, falling 6.4% to 76,433.

This marginal rise in light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales represents the market’s strongest August since 2005. Smaller vans weighing 2.0 to 2.5 tonnes drove that growth, with a 39.9% surge in registrations, while the pickup market moved from strength to strength, rising a further 8% in August.

Demand for heavier vehicles fell for the fifth consecutive month however, with registrations for vehicles weighing 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes down 0.6%. In comparison to the same period the previous year, pickups and LCVs have risen 14.4% and 11.4% respectively, while heavier van registrations have fallen 4%.

SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes had this to said: “August is traditionally one of the quietest months of the year, ahead of September’s plate change, so the moderate increase in the new van market is welcome news. While year-to-date figures show demand easing, this is in line with market expectations and overall registration volumes remain at a very high level. This stabilising of the market is indicative of what we can expect for the remainder of the year.”

Meanwhile, the UK car market also experienced a fifth consecutive month of decline. It’s a disappointing trend, especially after last year’s record-breaking August, but not the whole picture. With more than 76,000 new cars registered, last month’s performance represents the third biggest August since 2007.

Superminis and small family cars remained the most popular vehicles in August, accounting for more than half (58.3%) of all car registrations. SUVs, larger family cars and executives were the only market segments to grow however, up 7.9%, 2.2% and 1.1% respectively.

But for Mike Hawes there was little cause for concern: “With the new 67-plate now available and a range of new models in showrooms, we anticipate the continuation of what are historically high levels of demand.”

Demand for petrol hybrid and pure electric battery powered cars also rise sharply, up 74.9% and 62.5% respectively, while plug-in hybrid registrations leapt 38.5%.

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Neighbourhood Plan funding boost

The government Neighbourhood Plan scheme has received a funding boost of £22.8M which will support local communities in the development of their area.

The support package will help communities develop their own plans, enabling communities to have a real say in what the area needs.

The boost will support the development of much needed new housing and comes off the back of a recent announcement of innovative new planning measures to allow councils to speed up the delivery of much needed affordable housing.

Housing Minister Alok Sharma confirmed the funding, around £5.5M per year until 2022, will provide communities with specialist support to help develop a Neighbourhood Plan.

Neighbourhood Plans gives local communities a real say in the development of their area including where homes, shops, green spaces and offices should be built and how they should look.

The scheme has been successful, with over 400 neighbourhood planning referendums undertaken across England, driving local growth from Cornwall to Northumberland.

Housing and Planning Minister Alok Sharma said: “Neighbourhood planning gives communities a powerful set of tools to shape their area and drive local growth.

“The government is committed to giving communities even more of a say in the development of their area, and that’s why we’re dedicating around £23M between 2018 and 2022 to help groups create Neighbourhood Plans.

“With over 400 now in place more people than ever are having their say on the location and design of new homes, shops and offices in their community. I congratulate the many thousands of community minded people across England carrying out this valuable work.”

Trudi Elliott, Royal Town Planning Institute Chief Executive, said: “Having worked directly with over 274 groups to help them develop neighbourhood plans since their inception, the RTPI knows how much people care about these plans and how important they are in shaping places and building public trust in the planning system.

“It’s also clear from our experience that people need support to make the plan-making experience easier and worthwhile, so this latest funding is very welcome.”

The development of the Neighbourhood Plan scheme is part of the government’s housing white paper published in February 2017, which set out measures to give local people control over development in their area.

Since 2012, over 2,200 groups have started the neighbourhood planning process, covering areas of nearly 12 million people across England. Over 400 successful neighbourhood planning referendums have now taken place, with an average ‘yes’ vote of 88%.

 

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Could London lead the way in tackling the housing crisis?

The lack of affordable housing has been widely acknowledged as one of the UK’s biggest social, economical and political issues of our time. We speak to Sam Collins, Property Developer, about the crisis and the options for delivering more homes. 

Sam Collins

Throughout the country it has become increasingly difficult for young people to rent, let alone buy a home. The knock on effect of this has left a growing number of parents with adult children unable to fly the nest, leaving families squeezed into unsuitably small spaces, unable to climb the property ladder. Nowhere is more badly effected than London. At the beginning of September came the news that someone – London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, to be specific – is finally taking serious steps to help resolve the problem. But what does his housing strategy really mean, and could it be the first step towards resolving the housing crisis?

The first draft proposals issued by the Mayor’s office discuss a five-tier strategy, beginning with the construction of 90,000 affordable homes, and ending with a plan to put an end to rough sleeping. It is, in the Mayor’s words, ‘a marathon rather than a sprint’, so while the news is incredibly welcome, and has led to much rejoicing by housing associations, contractors, and home-hunters, it does raise one worrying concern: what will happen if Mr Khan leaves office?

Unlike his Mayoral predecessors, Sadiq Khan appears to have applied due care and attention in determining the viability of his housing plans. £250M pounds has been earmarked by City Hall to be used during the first stage of the stratagem. Land with the potential for development has been identified, including the recently sold derelict Webbs Industrial Estate in Waltham Forest. This will shortly become a new neighbourhood, with 330 new genuinely affordable homes to be built by Catalyst and Swan housing associations. In addition, the Mayor is looking at a potential legislation to ensure a better deal for private renters – something which may initially cause concern amongst landlords, but has the ability to create a more stable market with longer-term, guaranteed income without an endless search for reliable tenants.

What has taken place in Tower Hamlets alone in the last 12 months, with the large-scale regeneration of the area, is enough to add credence to the Mayor’s new plans. However, the mayoral term is just four years. In order to bring real confidence for investors and contractors, central Government need to get behind the scheme. This could come into effect with a cross-party agreement to ensure that during this time of flux, when no political party has the stability which long-term planning must build its foundations upon, this housing strategy will not find itself being buffeted by the changing winds of successive governments.

With the relevant support and guarantees in place, the “London Model’, as it’s being nominated, has the potential to be a real game-changer in the capital and beyond. Sites such as the defunct Waltham Forest Webb Industrial Estate could be rejuvenated into thriving areas of mixed housing, helping to pump the blood of talent through the city’s veins – because without housing the city just cannot be sustained.

The changes to the private rental market are equally important. Both landlords and tenants will be keen to see what the adjustments to the 30-year-old rules and regulations could be. But if longer-term agreements are on the horizon, with fixed rents that surpass the 6-12 month traditional period, it could help to provide security to both tenant and landlord in the medium term, and perhaps lead to increased purchasing power in the longer term. With lower rents over a sustained period of time this would allow the tenant to potentially save for a deposit to put towards owning their own home.

When you add in City Hall’s plans to provide greater support to new housing providers, including community builders, the picture appears complete and surprisingly rosy. If more people are trained within the construction industry, output can increase, which in turn will have an impact on employment; with more people in work more people will be able to afford to rent or purchase their own homes. With ‘Brexit’ on the horizon, Britain may well find itself in need of home-grown builders, plasterers, carpenters and labourers.

If, as is posited, the output of new homes in London is doubled to 50,000 per year, providing more individuals and families with long-term homes – rather than just places to live – we could see a potential end to one of London’s biggest problems. If we can then roll the London Model out nationwide, the issue of affordable housing could be permanently resolved.

There’s a long road in between any plans being put on to paper and seeing the fruit made of bricks and mortar, but in my view the Mayor’s housing strategy has the potential to go far. What remains to be seen is whether it’s given the support it needs to become a reality in the long term.

 

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